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The Winning of Woman Suffrage in Montana by Doris Buck Ward

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The Winning of Woman Suffrage in Montana by Doris Buck Ward The winning of woman suffrage in Montana by Doris Buck Ward A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in History Montana State University © Copyright by Doris Buck Ward (1974) Abstract: The debates of the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1889 on issues related to equal suffrage afford us direct insights into the intellectual setting of frontier society in Montana. Inherent in the suffrage issue were inter-related concepts regarding the proper role of woman and the locus of power in representative government. The delegates were keenly aware that their blueprint for statehood would mold social contours and determine access to political power. They decided that the political rights of their women should be tightly circumscribed. Suffragists modified their ideology and strategy in successive drives for the ballot. In Montana, as elsewhere, they eventually compromised principles of equal dignity in order to secure a broad consensus for woman suffrage. The Victorian cyst of sexual inequality remained to perpetuate the "woman problem." To many, Jeannette Rankin personified the suffrage movement in Montana. She was a remarkable leader. But others had conducted admirably conceived campaigns under trying circumstances before her. The prospects for equal suffrage rose and fell, not only with quality of leadership, but with reform spirit (particularly with Populism in the 1890's and with Progressivism and Socialism later). But the reform spirit was a conservative one— to restore control of government to the people for social progress compatible with traditional values. Adoption of the equal suffrage amendment to Montana's constitution in 1914, 25 years after admission to statehood, removed formal barriers to women's full participation in Montana government (except for jury duty). Conservative Montana lagged among western states in granting equal franchise. But in 1916, four years before the nation would have equal suffrage, Montana elected Miss Rankin to Congress. I In presenting this thesis in partial fulfillment of the requirements for an advanced degree at Montana State University, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available'for inspection. I I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis= for scholarly purposes may be granted by my major professor, or, in his absence, by the Director of Libraries. It is understood that any copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. THE WINNING OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN MONTANA by DORIS BUCK WARD A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in History Approved: Head, Major Department Chairman, Examining Committee Graduate Dean MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY Bozeman, Montana June, 1974 iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Thanks to Mrs. Harriet Meloy of the State Historical Society Library in Helena and to librarians at Montana State University, particularly Miss Minnie Paugh and Mrs. Lucille Thompson, who have given generously of their professional help. Their encouragement and personal interest in this work are greatly appreciated. Miss' Frieda Fligelman and Mrs. Belle Winestine granted stimu­ lating interviews which provided more insights into the Jeannette Rankin period than this work had been able to absorb. May they be tolerant of errors and omissions. Professors Richard Roeder, Michael Malone, Jeffrey Safford, and James Kearney (now with Arizona State University) proved to be the demanding scholars which attracted the author to graduate work in the . history department of Montana State University. Without the intensive help of Dr. Roeder, this thesis would have been submitted at a much earlier date. Special appreciation is reserved for the author's family for tolerating anti-social behavior as one woman enlarged her "sphere." To many other persons, the author's thanks. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page VITA. ......................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . ............. .......... - .......... H i LIST OF TABLES.............. .......................... ' v ABSTRACT. ................ vi CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION. ...... .............. I - CHAPTER II: CONCEPTS OF WOMEN AND SUFFRAGE FOR A NEW STATE . 14 CHAPTER III: WOMEN LIBBERS OF THE 1890'S............ 31 Suffragists and the WCTU, The Early Tie .......... 31 Ella Knowles, Populist.............. .'......... 34 Awakening Queens. ............ ................. .. 42 Girded Women.................... ............ 48. Enduring Suffragists................................ 63 : CHAPTER IV: THE TARNISHED VISION .......... .. 75 Tu'rn-of-the-Century Doldrums.......................... .. 75 Help Wanted in the Stables........................ 80 Incubation for Reform ............................. 100 CHAPTER V: SISTERS IN YELLOW AND W H I T E ........ '........... 107 CHAPTER VI: SUMMARY. '...................................... 152 BIBLIOGRAPHY ' .................................. .. 158 V LIST OF TABLES. Table Page 1 House Votes on Related Reform Bills, 1897....... 61 2 Vote on the Woman Suffrage Bill, 1905. ......... 99 3 Homestead Entries in Montana, 1905-1919........ 104 4 Development of. Montana Population, 1900-1920 . ■'. 104 . 5 Vote on the Woman Suffrage Bill, 1911.......... .. 113 6 Per Cent of County Votes in Support of Woman Suffrage (1914), Prohibition (1916), and Minor Parties (1914) . 147 vi ABSTRACT The debates * of the Montana Constitutional Convention of 1889 on issues related to equal suffrage afford us direct insights into the intellectual setting of frontier society in Montana. Inherent in the suffrage issue were inter-related concepts regarding the proper role of woman and the locus of power in representative government. The delegates were keenly aware that their; blueprint for statehood would mold social contours and determine access to political power. They decided that the political rights of their women should be tightly circumscribed. Suffragists modified their ideology and strategy in successive drives for the ballot. In Montana, as elsewhere, they eventually com­ promised principles of equal dignity in'order to secure a broad con­ sensus for woman suffrage. The Victorian cyst of sexual inequality remained to perpetuate the '''woman problem." To many, Jeannette Rankin personified the suffrage movement in Montana. She was a remarkable leader. But others had conducted admirably conceived campaigns under trying circumstances before her. The prospects for equal suffrage rose and fell, not only with quality of leadership, but with reform spirit (particularly with Populism in the 1890's and with Progressivism and Socialism later). But the reform spirit was a conservative one— to restore control of government to the people for social progress compatible with traditional values. Adoption of the equal suffrage amendment to Montana's consti­ tution in 1914, 25 years after admission to statehood, removed formal barriers to women's full participation in Montana government (except for jury duty). Conservative Montana lagged among western states in granting equal franchise. But in 1916, four years before the nation would have equal suffrage, Montana elected Miss Rankin to Congress. CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION Historians have written prolifically about Montana's colorful t early days— of Indians, trappers, and range barons; of mining camps, Vigilantes,. and Copper Kings. Popular attention has turned, also, to the more contemporary exploits of "the Company" and to twentieth century political figures of Montana. However, the history of ideas in the state, of cultural values held by the people and how those concepts interplayed with social and political development, remains largely virgin area for study. The woman suffrage movement in Montana affords a rich oppor­ tunity to fill part of that gap in understanding the state's past. Through successive campaigns for equal suffrage, spanning a quarter century (1889-1914), changes evoIvedr in the status of women and in the locus of political power. The objective of women's rights, broadly con­ ceived by Montana suffragists in the 1890's, narrowed to the goal of ballot in the Progressive period.^ Montana suffragists, like their national counterparts, adopted political expedients in order to secure popular support. Their reversion to a modified Victorian image of I The woman suffrage movement always included male advocates so the term "suffragist" herein will apply to any supporter of woman suffrage. "Suffragette," however, will designate only militant women, who became influential in the final, decade of the suffrage movement in the United States. "Feminism" will refer to the concept of equal rights and status of persons regardless of sex. 2 woman was central to the compromise. That strategy meant that some fundamental feminist reforms were.laid aside— until today's resurgence , of concern for women's rights. Thus basic elements of the current debate echo suffrage arguments of many decades ago. Although historians have not overlooked Montana's story of woman suffrage, much has yet to be told. To many people Jeannette Rankin symbolizes that movement, and several biographers have dealt 2 comprehensively with her suffrage work. Admirers of Miss Rankin often seem unaware, however, that a great amount of work by many Montana suffragists preceded the final phase of the struggle for equal franchise in Montana under Miss Rankin's leadership (1911-1914). They fail to acknowledge that
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